The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-02-02
SCIENTIFIC.

SoA@SN 4 IL lNs iitt1.5
The lecant communication Of M. lie.
lix lIumbert and M. Henry in regard
10 the method Of producing pure hydro.
gen, and OF making water gas at an ex-
tremely low cost, has caused a sensa-
tlon all over Europe. The process con-
slsts In causing small Jets Of steam to
lmpinge upon incandescent coke,
whereby, the car5on being In excess,
the steam is decomposed into equal
volumes Of hydrogen and monoxlde Of
carbon; and, further, IN leading these
gases over II large surface Of a highly
heated refractory substance IN presence
Of a fresh supply Of superheated steam,
whereby tho burning Of tho carbon to
dloxlde is effected and another volume
Of hydrogen is liberated. George G.
Andre asserts in the Colltery Guardian
that this process is described in the pat
ents Of Jacquolain, Gaudin and Bou-
chain, taken out as early as 1854. The
authors OF the communication say that
ono ton OF coke produces about 10000
feet Of gas, which Is eleven times the
quantity Of a ton OF coal, which reduces
the cost Of the gas TO a very low Dgure
very little, indeed. it may be sup
posed, above the cost OF natural gas,
when the difficulty or controlling that
gas is taken into account.
1t has happened, said Disraeli, that
inqujsitive men examining with a flam.
beau ancient sepulchres which have
just been opened, the fat and gross va
pors cngendeTed by the corruption Of the
dead. kindled rs the iambeau ap.
preached them, to the great astonish.
ment Of the spectators, who frequently
cried out "a miracle" This sudden
inflammation, although very natural,
has given room for tho belief that per-
petual lamps we're placed in the tombs
Of the ancients.
The King Of the Belgians, Leopold
IL. offers annually Il prize Of $4,000 for
the best essay on given subject The |
competition is open to the world every
alternate year. The next subject is |
"the progress Of electricity applied to
motive power and Illumination; it's ap-
pllcations and economical advantages.n
The essays must be written in French,
and sent before January l, 1887. The
conditions Of the competition may he
obtained from the Minister Of Agricul-
ture, Industry and Public Works.
IN infant loses from three to six
ounces III weight during the first four
to six days after birth; by the seventh
Gay 1t should have regained It's birth |
weight; from that to the fifth month
it ought to gain about five ounces
per week, or about SIX drains IL day;
after the nth month, about four
drains a day; at the fifth month it ought |
to have doubled its birthweight, and in
sixteen months quadrupled it.
according to the report OF the Ma
tional Telephone Association telephony
has not yet reached such a point as to
make long distance service formidable
IN competition with telegraphy. One
hundred miles or SO seems to lie the
paying limit at present, notwithstand-
Ing that there are several lines which
exceed that distance. That Of the
Wisconsin Telephone Company ls the
longest, and has 100 miles in regular
and successful operation.
Some soldering fluids are injurious to
tools and also to parts that have been
laid on the bench. The following fIuid
will not rust and tarnish any more than
water. Take two ounces Of alcohol and
put into it a bottle. Add about a tea
spoonful Of chloride of zinc, and shake
until dissolved, Use 1t III the same
manner as muriate of zinc is commonly
used.
Il tell-tale pant Tor hot bearings has
been brought out by Mr.. II. Crookcs,
of Westminster Chambers. When cool,
or at normal temperature, it IS q bril-
liant red; but as the temperature rises
it grows darker, until at 1909 Falr, it
is quite brown. AS 1T cools, it regains
its original redness. This paint should
be useful for high-speed machinery, es.
peci;fsay if it will attain the remarkable
property for any length Of time.
according TO the Amcrlcan Railrodd-
CT, it costs Il little more than 20 cents II
mile to run locomotive, on the aver
age. Nearly cents Of this is for fuel,
n for pay OF engineer and fireman, !
cent for oil and waste, and moro than
a cents for repairs. a ton Of coal will |
run locomotive twcnty-four miles, a
pint Of oil will run eleven miles, and a
pound Of waste one hundred and
twenty-three miles. The locomotives